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Literature Activities

Include here extension activities related to specific books




When adding lessons please include: Title of Lesson, Brief Synopsis, and suggested Grade Level(s)


  • Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

"What Would You Put In Your Enemy Pie?" an activity sheet that lets students illustrate the contents that they would put in an "enemy pie". Grades k-5
EnemyPie.pdf

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

"Grinch Scavenger Hunt" Students watch the original cartoon version of "The Grinch" and answer questions on a worksheet. Grades 4-5
Grinch.pdf

  • Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

"Shape Poems" - a poetry writing activity to accompany the book. Grades 3-4
LoveThatDog.pdf

  • WCCPBA Nominees 2009

Packet with activities for each of the 20 books nominated for the 2009 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award. Grades K-3
ActivityPacket 09c_Final.pdf

  • WCCPBA Nominees 2008

Packet with activities for each of the 20 books nominated for the 2008 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award. Grades K-3
WCCPBA 2008 Activity Packet.pdf

  • WCCPBA Nominees 2007

Packet with activities for each of the 20 books nominated for the 2007 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award. Grades K-3
ActivityPacket_07.pdf

  • Color Unit for Kindergarten


1. Start with a mystery bag that has 5 or 6 items featuring the color of the day. For red you might have an apple, Clifford, a red candle, a red crayon, a strawberry, etc. On a white board draw a large picture of the bag and as the students guess draw and label the item in the bag. If a student guesses something that's not in the bag, draw it outside the bag. At the beginning of the year I usually give the students some hints about what's in the bag, but they catch on quickly.
2. Next we read a story featuring that color. You can use the ones suggested on the paper or come up with your own.
3. Then it's time for them to become authors. What object(s) can they draw that feature the color of the day. I use half sheets so the kindergarteners don't feel overwhelmed filling the page. Students that are able can copy the words from the white board while others dictate to me. I encourage any attempt at trying to copy the words or invented spelling. Names go on the back. I keep these papers until we have finished all the colors. Then I read The Deep Blue Sea by Audrey Wood and we do the cover with a rainbow. I put the pages and cover together and present their books to them at the next library time.

Sample Page Files for the Color Book: ColorCover.pdf BlueBrown.pdf GreenOrange.pdf PurpleRed.pdf WhiteYellow.pdf

  • I Have, Who Has? - a Question and Answer Game (for introducing specific books or series)

This is a game I learned from a Nancy Polette workshop. You can construct these for any book. I have done this for The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide, The Time Warp Trio: Knights of the Round Table, and The Bailey School Kids: Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips. I use this game to introduce a variety of series books to my third graders.
How to play: Cut apart the strips and pass them out randomly to pairs of students. Give them a few minutes to read the questions (Who has?) and answers (I have) sentences so they can read them fluently when you play. The starred sentence starts - Who has? By listening carefully students who have the correct "I have" sentence on their strip should be able to respond correctly even though they haven't read the story. Follow this game up with reading a chapter of the book to generate interest in the series.
Sample sentence strips for the Spiderwick Chronicles: IHave_WhoHas.pdf